Tech Desk 
Apr 25, 2025
An undated image. — Pixabay
In order to make in-depth web research faster and more accessible to a broader audience, OpenAI is reportedly releasing a new “lightweight” version of its ChatGPT deep research tool for free users.
ChatGPT's lightweight feature, which compiles research summaries on various topics, is now available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users and is also being introduced to free users starting today.
Although it's not as capable as the standard version, the feature is powered by OpenAI’s o4-mini model, offering a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to users.
Rolling out ChatGPT's lightweight feature, OpenAI noted, allows the company to increase usage limits while maintaining a high-quality standard.
“Responses will typically be shorter while maintaining the depth and quality you’ve come to expect,” OpenAI said on X (formerly Twitter). “Once limits for the original version of deep research are reached, queries automatically default to the lightweight version.”
Since similar features are also offered by Google’s Gemini, Microsoft’s Copilot, and xAI’s Grok, the tool has been introduced amid the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) space, which is witnessing fierce competition.
The lightweight version of ChatGPT's deep research tool will also be made available to Enterprise and education users next week.
